July 31, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5335 

reform agenda, engage appropriately 

with the West and eschew regional conflict. 

In the meantime, Mr. Speaker, we as 

Americans have a responsibility to live 

up to our own ideals. How can we 

preach democracy, yet shun the free 

and fair choices of Egyptians? Of 

course, we cannot be naive. We have to 

recognize that democracy is about 

more than just elections, but also 

about protecting minority rights and 

building institutions that outlast the 

individuals who occupy them. 

But we also have to recognize that 

supporting only democracies around 

the world that produce our own preferred results is the height of hypocrisy. On a more practical level, compromising our own values would only 

strengthen the hands of anti-Western 

fundamentalists. Refusing to engage 

with the Muslim Brotherhood would 

simply achieve a self-fulfilling prophecy by giving rise to extremists over 

reformists and moderates. 

No country following decades of authoritarian rule can make a full transition to a thriving, stable, peaceful and 

prosperous democracy quickly and 

painlessly. Even with the most optimistic of outlooks, the Egyptian people 

will struggle for years to come to 

throw off the shackles of the past and 

create the kind of future for which we 

all strive. We have been working at 

this for 236 years, Mr. Speaker, and we 

still haven’t gotten it exactly right. 

We have a responsibility, as longtime 

Egyptian allies and as champions of democracy around the globe, to stand 

with them in this process, encouraging 

continued reform and providing our 

support for the development of real democracy in the Arab world’s most populous nation. 

f 

HONORING AMERICA’S VETERANS 

AND CARING FOR CAMP 

LEJEUNE FAMILIES ACT 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair recognizes the gentleman from 

North Carolina (Mr. MILLER) for 5 minutes. 

Mr. MILLER of North Carolina. Mr. 

Speaker, I rise in support of the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring 

for Camp Lejeune Families Act, which 

the House will consider later today, especially title I, the Janey Ensminger 

Act. 

Title I and a similar House bill honor 

a 9-year-old girl who died from childhood leukemia, most likely because 

she was exposed to contaminated 

drinking water at Camp Lejeune, North 

Carolina, when her mother was pregnant with her. 

And by honoring Janey Ensminger, 

we honor those Americans who have 

shown remarkable determination to 

make their government do the right 

thing. They have struggled for more 

than a decade to learn exactly what 

chemicals were in the drinking water 

at Camp Lejeune, water that perhaps a 

million marines and their families 

were exposed to over a 30-year period, 

to learn the health effects of exposure 

to the contaminated drinking water, 

and to seek justice for those harmed. 

They took on their own government, 

including the Marine Corps they had 

served and to which they are still 

loyal, but which has been shamefully 

reluctant to accept responsibility for 

the water contamination. 

Janey’s father, Jerry Ensminger, is a 

retired marine who lived with his family on base at Camp Lejeune for a time. 

Jerry watched his daughter become ill 

from leukemia, struggle with the disease, and eventually lose the struggle. 

Years after he watched his daughter 

die, Jerry learned of the water contamination at Camp Lejeune and has 

not rested since. 

I first met Jerry 4 years ago when he 

testified powerfully on the Science and 

Technology Committee’s Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, which I then chaired. Jerry 

worked shoulder to shoulder with others, including Tom Townsend, Mike 

Partain, Jim Fontella, the Byron family and William Hill against long odds. 

b 1220 

The Janey Ensminger Act is the result of their remarkable efforts. They 

were always faithful to the cause of 

justice for those harmed by the contaminated drinking water. 

The Janey Ensminger Act will require the VA to provide medical coverage for certain illnesses to veterans 

who served at Camp Lejeune between 

1957 and 1987, and to their families. The 

VA will be the ‘‘payer of last resort.’’ 

Justice requires no less for the people 

harmed by the water contamination at 

Camp Lejeune. 

The harm will never be fully made 

right. The bill will not help Janey or 

her father. But the Janey Ensminger 

Act acknowledges responsibility and 

provides needed treatment for many 

others. 

The marines who have championed 

this legislation served our democracy 

when they wore our Nation’s uniform, 

and they served our democracy by 

their determination to obtain justice 

for the people harmed by the toxic 

drinking water at Camp Lejeune. 

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THE POLITICS OF FAIRNESS—I.E., 

THE POLITICS OF FAVORITISM 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair recognizes the gentleman from 

Texas (Mr. POE) for 5 minutes. 

Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we 

have heard a lot about fairness from 

the President lately. Perhaps his Chicago advisers think that if he distracts, 

divides, and creates envy all in the 

name of so-called ‘‘fairness,’’ Americans will ignore their thin wallets and 

stacked up bills. But the people are 

smarter than back-room government 

policycrats. 

If the President is reelected in January, he will have inherited a weak 

economy from his predecessor—himself. Then who will he blame? The 

President was elected to solve problems, not place blame and make excuses for failure. 

Like most Americans, I want the administration to succeed, but the evidence is not on the administration’s 

side. With unemployment higher than 8 

percent for 41 months—even higher for 

recent college graduates at above 50 

percent—and our deficit above $15 trillion, there isn’t much of a record to 

stand on. 

So we are involved in a new Madison 

Avenue campaign diversion called ‘‘Remake America’’ to make America 

‘‘fair.’’ Of course, fairness is in the eyes 

of the beholder, and it means different 

things to different folks; but it certainly sounds good at first glance. 

Mr. Speaker, let’s look at this idea. 

The politics of ‘‘fairness’’ are used 

when politicians want you to ignore 

their record and then claim that some 

people just haven’t been treated fairly. 

This is a mere diversion from failed 

policy, failed ideas. When you look at 

the record, you’ll see that this administration’s definition of ‘‘fairness’’ really means ‘‘favoritism.’’ 

There is no fairness in crony capitalism. That is favoritism. There is no 

fairness in a perpetual bailout culture 

where the omnipotent government 

deems some too big to fail and others 

too small to succeed. That is favoritism. There is no fairness in forcing 

Americans to fork over money to pay 

for failed pet endeavors like Solyndra. 

That is favoritism. There is no fairness 

in an unaccountable government that 

constantly takes money from the 

working people and squanders it in a 

failed stimulus—or two. That is favoritism. And there is no fairness in enforcing some laws while proudly ignoring other laws. That is favoritism. 

What this ‘‘fairness’’ debate—or the 

politics of favoritism—achieves is a 

systematic desire by government to 

create animosity—animosity towards 

those who have or are just trying to 

achieve some success. It also creates 

animosity toward government from 

those who built it on their own without 

being a member of the government’s 

favored class. 

This debate degrades the American 

Dream because it removes the equality 

of opportunity and creates a class of favorites—the class of government 

‘‘friends.’’ 

There is no equality or fairness in 

forced equal outcomes. Since some people are more successful than others, to 

paraphrase Lincoln, the government, 

which cannot make everyone rich, is 

trying to accomplish what it can do— 

make everyone poor and dependent on 

the government for success. This is 

fairness? I think not. 

Instead of encouraging individuals to 

succeed on their own, this administration tells citizens that they need the 

government. In fact, according to The 

Wall Street Journal, almost 50 percent 

of the population lives in a household 

where at least one member receives a 

government benefit. 


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H5336 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE July 31, 2012 

Bad policies have forced more Americans to grow dependent on government. 

The President wants to, in his own 

words, remake America. Remake it 

into what? A Nation where the government is running roughshod over our 

lives and our liberty? A country where 

no one is allowed to succeed unless the 

government gives permission? No 

thanks. I thought we threw that idea 

away when we left the regime of King 

George III. 

America doesn’t need to be remade 

into a Third World country totally oppressed by a government that wants 

America to be another European nanny 

state where special favoritism is given 

to government’s special friends. 

We need to return to what our country was founded on: the pursuit of opportunity or, as Jefferson said it, the 

right of life, liberty and the pursuit of 

happiness. 

The American Dream—a dream that 

can come true with individualism and 

hard work and without a government 

that punishes ambition, creativity, and 

success while rewarding failure—all in 

the name of fairness. 

The politics of favoritism, under the 

guise of ‘‘fairness,’’ is not the America 

we need. Mr. Speaker, the America I 

know doesn’t need to be remade into 

the politics of favoritism. 

And that’s just the way it is. 

f 

HONORING THE LIFE OF WILLIS 

EDWARDS 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 

California (Ms. BASS) for 5 minutes. 

Ms. BASS of California. Mr. Speaker, 

I rise today to honor the life of a friend 

and a remarkable individual from Los 

Angeles, Willis Edwards. 

For the past 40 years, Mr. Edwards 

tirelessly advocated for civil and political rights and worked to ensure that 

positive images of African Americans 

were seen by the American public. 

Throughout his life, Willis Edwards 

was known for his strength of conviction and passion for the promotion of 

the African American community. 

After working for the Robert Kennedy 

Presidential campaign in college and 

earning a Bronze Star in the U.S. Army 

during the Vietnam war, Edwards 

helped to elect the first African American mayor of Los Angeles, Tom Bradley, and served as the youngest-ever 

city commissioner on his Social Services Commission. 

Mr. Edwards continued his career of 

service as the director of black student 

services at the University of Southern 

California, where he helped future generations of students discover their passion. 

In 1982, Mr. Edwards was elected 

president of the Beverly Hills-Hollywood branch of the NAACP. Under his 

leadership, the branch fought to improve the image and gain more jobs for 

African Americans in front of and behind the scenes in Hollywood. As president in 1986, he helped to nationally 

televise the NAACP Image Awards, 

which continues today as a highly regarded entertainment event. 

Mr. Edwards never shied away from 

controversial subjects or issues. After 

his diagnosis with AIDS, he used his 

position on the national board of the 

NAACP to publicly discuss the impact 

of HIV/AIDS in the African American 

community, and he organized the 

NAACP’s participation in World AIDS 

Day. Despite his health challenges, Mr. 

Edwards continued to support his 

friends and communities. 

Until Rosa Parks’s death in 2002, Mr. 

Edwards was a friend and confidant of 

the civil rights legend. He helped to 

promote her legacy by escorting her to 

the 1998 Oscar ceremony and worked 

alongside former Congresswoman Julia 

Carson for Parks to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. Upon her 

death, Edwards arranged for her to lie 

in state here in the Capitol rotunda. 

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have 

called Willis Edwards a friend and a 

mentor. He has left an indelible mark 

on Los Angeles, and his dedication to 

California and national politics will 

never be forgotten. It is a great honor 

to recognize his life here on the floor 

today. His spirit and vision will truly 

be missed. 

f 

RECESS 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair 

declares the House in recess until 2 

p.m. today. 

Accordingly (at 12 o’clock and 28 

minutes p.m.), the House stood in recess. 

f 

b 1400 

AFTER RECESS 

The recess having expired, the House 

was called to order by the Speaker pro 

tempore (Mr. S

f 

IMPSON) at 2 p.m. 

PRAYER 

The Chaplain, the Reverend Patrick 

J. Conroy, offered the following prayer: 

Dear God, we give You thanks for 

giving us another day. 

As the Members of this people’s 

House return, grant them the generosity to serve You as You deserve; to 

give of their industry and not count 

the cost; to fight for their convictions 

and not heed the political wounds; to 

toil and not seek for rest; to labor and 

not ask for reward except for knowing 

that, in being their best selves, they do 

Your will. 

And, dear God, on this day, we ask 

Your blessing upon the family of Tim 

Harroun. Grant them peace and consolation as they mourn the loss of their 

mother. 

May all that is done be for Your 

greater honor and glory. 

Amen. 

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THE JOURNAL 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair has examined the Journal of the 

last day’s proceedings and announces 

to the House his approval thereof. 

Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved. 

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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Will the 

gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. 

FOXX) come forward and lead the House 

in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Ms. FOXX led the Pledge of Allegiance as follows: 

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the 

United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, 

indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 

f 

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT 

A message in writing from the President of the United States was communicated to the House by Mr. Brian 

Pate, one of his secretaries. 

f 

REGULATORY REFORM 

(Ms. FOXX asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 

minute.) 

Ms. FOXX. The President’s policies 

have failed and are making the economy worse. 

Since President Obama took office, 

we’ve seen a 52 percent increase in 

completed regulations deemed ‘‘economically significant,’’ which means 

they cost the economy at least $100 

million a year. We can’t create a fair 

system for job creators when the government keeps changing the rules. We 

can’t help the job seeker by punishing 

the job creator with more government 

red tape. 

How can someone who believes that 

small business owners didn’t even build 

their own businesses understand the effects of red tape? He can’t. 

That is why House Republicans 

passed the Red Tape Reduction and 

Small Business Job Creation Act—a 

combination of pro-growth bills aimed 

at cutting red tape to make it easier 

for small businesses to create more 

jobs. In order to grow more jobs for the 

American people, we need to shrink the 

amount of red tape coming from Washington. 

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TAX RATES 

(Mr. COURTNEY asked and was 

given permission to address the House 

for 1 minute and to revise and extend 

his remarks.) 

Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, in exactly 5-months’ time, the tax rates for 

every tax filer in this country will go 

up in the event of the so-called ‘‘fiscal 

cliff,’’ which most mainstream economists believe would push our country 

back into a double-dip recession. 

There is hope, however. 

Last week, the U.S. Senate passed a 

measure which protects the incomes of 

every tax filer up to $250,000 and allows 

rates for incomes above that point to 


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